According to an eastern legend, God made a statue of clay in His own image, and asked the soul to enter into it. But the soul refused to enter on
the grounds that is nature was to fly about freely and not imprisonment in a body of clay. Then God asked the angels to play their music, and as
the angels played, the soul was moved to ecstasy. Through that ecstasy, and in order to make the music clearer to itself, the soul voluntarily
entered the body of clay. It is said the soul found a restful respite in the tranquility that comes from listening to music.

Our sense of and attraction to music shows that it lies in the very depths of our being. In the East, music has long been used to alter
states of consciouness and heighten levels of spiritual awareness, in recognition of the fact that music connects us to our inner-most being, and
in so doing, also connects us to the larger Truth.

This album aims to capture that harmony which comes with the mind and body being turned to the music of the higher spheres, creating
an intensely peaceful state that produces an easy sense of beauty and tranquility for the mind, body and soul.

Abhijit Pohankar

Born in 1975, Abhijit Pohankar is the son of the well-known classical vocalist Pandit Ajay Pohankar. Given his birth into a musical family,
Abhijit Pohankar was exposed to the rigours of the Hindustani Classical tradition at a very early age onwards.

Abhijit Pohankar is unique in that he is the ‘only’ classical keyboard player on the concert circuit. His sound on the keyboard is akin to
a mixture of the Santoor and Piano - a very distinct and unique sound to experience! In this he has been fortunate enough to learn from his guru,
Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma. Abhijit has not been overtly restrictive to classical music alone. His repertoire also includes what may be broadly
termed as fusion music.

Mountain Magic - Raga Pahadi
Pahadi is literally the melody of the mountains, rooted in the folk traditions of the Himalyas. While strictly not part of the Classical
oeuvre, its growing popularity in recent years has made it an essential component of the concert scene. On this track, a brief introductory piece
on the flute is followed by a percussive composition in medium tempo, with guitar and keyboards joining in to fill the gaps.

Joy: Raga Jhinjhoti
Jhinjhoti is an immensely popular Raag, which is often heard at weddings and other celebratory occasions. On this track, its upbeat celebratory
mood is captured beautifully by the sitar and the flute, both exercising a degree of quiet restraint and inducing a state of controlled joy.

Tranquillity: Raga Gorakh Kalyan
Gorakh Kalyan is thought to have originated from the folk music of the Indian region of Gorkahpur and has become popular only the
early part of the 20th century. The overall impact of the flute-sitar combination on this track is one of serenity with a subdued hint of romance.
This composition does not contain a rhythm section, allowing a mood of quiet tranquility to prevail.

Sweet Romance: Raga Bageshri
The instrument played on this track is a very rare and unique instrument belonging to Rajendra Saingh’s family - the swarlin is shaped
like a violin, but has greater depth and its closest resemblance is sound is to the Sarangi. Apt for lyrical compositions, it provides for
interpretation of the subtle, serene romanticism of the raga, through a slowly unfolding, exploratory rendition.

Salutation: Raga Des
Raga Des (meaning ‘homeland’) carries a poignant, heart-wrenching melancholy of its own, with overtones of home sickness and
nostalgia. In this track, a brief introduction is followed by a rhythm section in which the flute and the sitar trail one another in a kind of animated
dialogue.

Journey: Bhatyali
Bhatyali is the traditional folk music of the Bengali boatmen based on the reality of his being forever at the mercy of the
temperamental nature of the rivers. The Santoor’s percussive effect in conjunction with the Tabla attempts to capture the nuances of an uncertain
journey journey on troubled waters.

Tender Emotions: Raga Kaunsi Kannada
This is a composite raga with elements from the Malkauns and the Darbari Kannada Ragas. The Sarod brings an enhanced vitality to
certain notes and allows the raga to unfold in a mood of quiet dignity and restraint. The melody is one that altogether urges the listener to
surrender completely.

Testimonials

Thank you for shipping my 2 Books!
Absolutli a great job in this short time, 3 working days from India to Switzerland it`s fantastic!!!
You have won some new clients!

Ruedi, Switzerland

I am overwhelmed with the amount of hard-to-find Hindu scriptural texts that I have been able to locate on the Exotic India website as well as other authentic cultural items from India. I am impressed with your fast and reliable shipping methods.

Lee Scott, USA

Your service is excellent.

Shambhu, USA

Exotic India has the best selection of Hindu/Buddhist statues at the best prices and best shipping that I know of.I have bought many statues from them.I am thankful for their online presence.

Michael, USA

Thanks for sharpening our skills with wisdom and sense of humor.The torchbearers of the ancient deity religion are spread around the world and the books of wisdom from India bridges the gap between east and west.

Kaushiki, USA

Thank you for this wonderful New Year sale!

Michael, USA

Many Thanks for all Your superb quality Artworks at unbeatable prices. We have been recommending EI to friends & family for over 5 yrs & will continue to do so fervently. Cheers

Dara, Canada

Thank you for your wonderful selection of books and art work. I am a regular customer and always appreciate the excellent items you offer and your great service.